The Hormones Of Childbirth: A Mix Of Beautiful Feelings
Everything that happens in a woman’s body is closely linked to those substances called hormones. And childbirth is no exception. Oxytocin is one of the main hormones of motherhood, its presence is vital during orgasms, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and during all stages of parenting.
Oxytocin, also called “love hormone,” is secreted by the pituitary. It is the chemical responsible for the feeling of protection and responsibility that floods your chest every time you look at it.
However, it is not the only substance that intervenes during pregnancy, when your body mainly develops to nourish, protect and transport your baby. Hormones such as chorionic gonadotropin, estrogens, progesterone, placental lactogen, relaxin, prolactin, adrenaline, and endorphins are also involved in this period. Each one has a fundamental task during this delicate stage.
Hormones of childbirth
Oxytocin, the love hormone
The love hormone is secreted throughout pregnancy and its levels remain stable thanks to the action of progesterone. However, its action is decisive when the moment of delivery arrives.
When you go to give birth, oxytocin levels progressively increase and its action makes contractions more effective. Something that in turn allows the cervix to dilate. On some occasions, when a woman’s spontaneous contractions are not enough, health professionals usually administer small doses of synthetic oxytocin to help the dilation process.
Already when the baby is born, the love hormone stimulates the production of milk and favors the creation of the mother-child bond. It also helps the uterus to contract to its normal size and prevents internal bleeding.
Adrenaline, one of the main hormones of labor
If oxytocin is the hormone of love, adrenaline is in charge of keeping us alert. It is the hormone of attack and defense, which is activated when you sense that there is danger.
Before delivery, each mother’s body provides the baby with certain amounts of adrenaline. These will help you to be alert to the environment and develop the reflexes necessary to survive.
Adrenaline in women has different functions, because although it favors in her the development of an instinctive feeling to protect the baby and helps her to be alert during the birthing process, when its levels rise above normal, it inhibits the secretion of oxytocin. This slows down labor, and also decreases blood flow to the uterus, which directly affects the baby.
The fact that adrenaline levels rise greatly during labor is related to pure instinct and is when the body irrationally stops labor in order to protect the baby. This is precisely why it is so important to take care of the environment in which the birth takes place, as a calm environment will help this delicate process to develop easily.
The elasticity of relaxin
Relaxin, as its name suggests, is the hormone in charge of relaxing muscles and joints. Its action is very positive in childbirth, as it favors the elasticity and mobility of the pelvic bones. This hormone is also responsible for adapting your spine to the new center of gravity during pregnancy and is responsible for the low back pain that many women suffer at the end of pregnancy.
The anesthesia hormone
Endorphins generate a natural anesthetizing effect . Before labor begins, a woman’s body begins to secrete endorphins, the levels of which increase as the labor process progresses. This hormone alters the perception of pain you feel when you give birth.
For the anesthesia hormone to appear, you need to feel relaxed and confident. So to enjoy the favors of endorphins, try to ward off stress, worries and fears during labor. It is also good for you to know that the use of pharmacological analgesia – such as epidurals – inhibits the natural production of endorphins.
